Our Rector
The Reverend Canon Richard Livingston Marquess-Barry

Father Barry was born and reared in Miami, Florida.  He is the offspring of Bahamian immigrants.  A product of the Miami-Dade County Public School System, he graduated from Miami Northwestern Senior High School in 1958 where his portrait hangs in the school’s Hall of Fame.  Canon Marquess-Barry furthered his education at Saint Augustine’s College, Raleigh, North Carolina; American University, Washington, District of Columbia; the Virginia Theological Seminary Alexandria, Virginia and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.

At Virginia Theological Seminary, he was the only black student enrolled during his three years of study (1965-68).  He has served as a Visiting Fellow at the University of Munich, Munich, Germany and Oxford University, Oxford England.  In 1995 Barber-Scotia College, Concord, North Carolina awarded him a Doctor of Humane Letters degree.  Canon Marquess-Barry has taught on both the secondary and collegiate levels.

He is an ordained priest of the Episcopal Church (Anglican Communion) and has served as a priest for over 40 years.  He was invested as an Honorary Canon of the African Orthodox Church in 1995 and invested as an Honorary Canon of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Miami, FL in 2001.  He was a finalist for Bishop, Diocese of Ohio in 1993 and the Diocese of Southeast Florida in 2000.

He is married to his college sweetheart, the former Virla Rolle of West Palm Beach, Florida.  They are the parents of one married daughter and two grandsons. 

In 1977, Canon Marquess-Barry was called to lead Saint Agnes’ Episcopal Church, the largest and oldest black Episcopal congregation in Miami.  Under his leadership, Saint Agnes’ Episcopal Church adopted a HUD project, Rainbow Village Housing Development and forced the Miami-Dade Housing Agency to completely renovate the complex.  He combined the tenant council of Rainbow Village and the Vestry of this parish to form the Saint Agnes’ Rainbow Village Community Development Corporation.  Through this organization, eighty two-story, three and four bedroom single family homes for ownership have been built for low and moderate income families in the Overtown community adjacent to the Historic Saint Agnes.  The CDC is also a joint venture partner with the Taylor Development Group in the construction of a 17-story office complex in downtown Miami.

The Canon has always served above and beyond his calling.  His active presence can be felt in government, politics, and religion.  In addition to his bold acts of faith, Canon Marquess-Barry is a devout champion for the education of our youth. 

                 

The Reverend Canon
Richard Livingston Marquess-Barry